Automated Pain Recognition Using Analysis of Facial Expressions

Date
2017
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Volume Title
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Abstract
Current pain evaluation involves the use of patient self-reporting, which can be subjective, prone to suggestion, and infeasible on certain patients. Post-surgery patients, elderly people with dementia, or young children cannot properly convey their pain, even though it still occurs. There are also limitations on the frequency caregivers or doctors can check on their patients. To help solve this problem, this thesis develops solutions for automated pain detection via facial expressions. The system continually classifies the subject as being in pain, or not in pain. Subject pain levels are verified using the Prkachin and Solomon Pain Intensity Scale. Two fully automated algorithms are presented, the first uses Gabor filters with Support Vector Machines, the other uses a type of deep learning, Convolutional Neural Networks. Feasibility studies are conducted on a database and real-life subjects from an elderly care facility. Results are evaluated using precisions and speed of computation.
Description
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Engineering--Electronics and Electrical, Psychology--Physiological
Citation
Shier, W. A. (2017). Automated Pain Recognition Using Analysis of Facial Expressions (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25076